‘You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do. What are they asking for? Trouble,’ the 65 year old designer told viathe Daily Mail.

Adding, ‘To see it here in our own country is very difficult, but I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?’

The DKNY founder, who is friends with Weinstein’s wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, described the couple as ‘wonderful people,’ adding: ‘Harvey has done some amazing things.’

Donna Karan defends Harvey Weinstein: Are women asking for it when they dress ‘too sexually?’

The designer’s comments, ostensibly claiming that Weinstein’s victims ‘asked for it’ by dressing seductively serves to shift the blame of the sexual abuse back on to the victim, Which is to invite the adage that men can never be responsible for their actions and that a women ought to accept culpability if she dresses in a way that may inspire any man to cross boundaries and sexually assault a woman. A phrase that comes under the ambit of slut shaming.

A point of view that appears to be at odds with the designer who has perennially championed the rights of women and been instrumental in their sensual denouement in society with her female assertive and daring outfits.

While any woman ought to be open to the idea that the world is indeed replete with men who don’t hesitate to use their power, masculinity and society’s skewed perception of women’s role, one is wanton to wonder how any man can ultimately pass off his actions as the fault of a woman? Irrespective of how or where she dressed.

Of note, Karan’s comments come as many of Weinstein’s former friends, including actresses, Judi Dench and Meryl Streep, having denounced the producer based on the sexual harassment allegations.